Bloomingdale Girl Scouts earn Bronze Award with special school project

By DEBORAH WALSH

STAFF WRITER |

Suburban Trends

Local Girl Scouts have undertaken a variety of service projects that help youngsters in their community and beyond.

Girl Scouts from Troop 94147 who earned their Bronze Award presented their sponsorship of Community Based Instruction for multiply disabled students to the Bloomingdale school board. Shown are Gabriella Luque, Brielle Bogash, Kimberly DeMarco, Camryn Keegan, Iris O'Neill, and Amanda Merino.Some of the Girl Scouts involved in making a quilt presented to the school board in conjunction with the World Thinking Day program included Iris O'Neill, Kimberly DeMarco, Gabriella Luque, Brielle Bogash, Camryn Keegan, Katie Gallagher, Emily Keegan, Sarah Gray, Lauren Spencer, Carey Villa, and Amanda Merino. Holding the dowel that the quilt is suspended from is Meg Gray (hidden) at left and Lori Villa at right.

At a June 2 school board meeting, girls from Troop 94147 presented proceeds from their Bronze Award service project. The Bronze Award is the highest award attainable at the Junior Girl Scout level. According to their leader, Cindy Keegan, the girls raised $2,041 to fund services for the Multiply Disabled Program at Walter T. Bergen (WTB) School. Specifically, the funds will go toward Community Based Instruction.

Keegan said the junior Scouts were brainstorming ideas for their Bronze Award when Amanda Merino came up with the idea of helping out Willow Bross, a member of their troop, who had been enrolled in the multiply disabled program at Samuel R. Donald (SRD) School. The girls working toward their Bronze Award are in fifth grade, and when they became fifth graders they transitioned from the SRD to WTB. There is no multiply disabled class at WTB, so Willow remained at SRD.

"The girls love Willow and wanted her to be with them at school," said Keegan.

So troop representatives met with Cheryl Mallen, the director of special services for the school district, and therapist Amanda Sisco to determine how they could best help the district's multiply disabled program. The girls found out that the district is converting a home economics classroom at WTB into a multiply disabled classroom over the summer, so multiply disabled youngsters at SRD will now be able to advance to WTB.

Keegan said Girl Scouts are not permitted to make monetary donations, but are allowed to donate equipment and services. In speaking with Mallen and Sisco, it was determined that Community Based Instruction would greatly benefit students enrolled in the multiply disabled program. In the past, one of the Community Based Instruction activities for students in this class has been a trip to the supermarket and a return trip to school where they prepare a meal, which has significant and varied therapeutic value.

Saddling up

The Community Based Instruction the Scouts will fund includes horseback riding at Starlight Farm in Ringwood, which specializes in hippotherapy. The term hippotherapy is derived from the Greek word for horse: hippo. It is speech, occupational, or physical therapy that utilizes the horse's movement in treatment. The youngsters will also visit New York Sports Club where they will swim for physical therapy.

To raise the funds for the Community Based Instruction, Keegan said the girls invented a workshop that they called "Art Outside the Box." For three days, the Bronze Award candidates hosted Art Outside the Box and girls from other local troops were invited to participate in the program for a $10 donation.

The girls organized five different stations where art activities were orchestrated in a way that would allow participants to feel what it would be like to complete the activity if they were disabled. Citing an example, Keegan said at one station the girls were given a long, wiggly brush to create a painting. At each station the girls would explain the disability and name three famous people including renowned athletes who have that particular disability.

"They realized that things could be more difficult, but still fun. They learned that there is equipment and therapies that can help people overcome difficulties. They realized it is okay to have a disability and that you can work things out," said Keegan.

In addition to the Art Outside the Box program, Meg Gray's Cadette Girl Scout Troop hosted a "Girl Scouts Got Talent" program, where carnations were sold to raise funds. A carnation was purchased for the girls participating in the talent show.

The girls from Troop 94147 attended the June 2 school board meeting, where they symbolically presented the board with their Community Based Instruction donation. Those receiving their Bronze Award who attended the June 2 meeting included Gabriella Luque, Brielle Bogash, Kimberly DeMarco, Iris O'Neill, and Amanda Merlino. Olivia Tuck, Willow Bross, Estreya Cuervo-Whitney, and Olivia Pardo were unable to attend the meeting.

The other presentation made at the June 2 school board meeting focused on the Girl Scouts World Thinking Day. According to information provided by Theresa Merino of the local World Thinking Day Committee, World Thinking Day has been observed by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides since 1926. It is a day of friendship, advocacy, and fundraising for 10 million Girl Scouts and Girl Guides throughout the world. They celebrate World Thinking Day by learning about their international sisters in designed focus countries for the year.

This year's focus countries are Armenia, Egypt, Benin, Bangladesh, St. Vincent, and Grenadines. They also commemorate World Thinking Day by participating in fun and educational activities based on the advocacy theme of the year while earning their World Thinking Day badge. This year's theme is achieving universal primary education.

Meg Gray, who serves as both a Cadette troop leader and Brownie troop co-leader, said Bloomingdale and Butler Girl Scout service units, which consist of more than 200 Scouts, participated in making a quilt as part of their World Thinking Day badge requirements. Each girl made a fabric square that was included in the quilt. In keeping with the theme, each fabric square focused on an educator. The Bloomingdale Scouts presented the quilt to the school board on June 2. The Butler Scouts also made a quilt to present to their school board.

"They were instructed to make fabric squares that expressed a message of thanks to an educator. We discussed the importance of having access to education; especially primary education, which is something that all girls have access to throughout the world," said Gray.

Gray and Keegan also lead Brownie Troop 94641, which collected 300 books for Better World Books, a non-profit that attempts to distribute books to youngsters in need.

Bloomingdale Girl Scouts earn Bronze Award with special school project

Girl Scouts from Troop 94147 who earned their Bronze Award presented their sponsorship of Community Based Instruction for multiply disabled students to the Bloomingdale school board. Shown are Gabriella Luque, Brielle Bogash, Kimberly DeMarco, Camryn Keegan, Iris O'Neill, and Amanda Merino.Some of the Girl Scouts involved in making a quilt presented to the school board in conjunction with the World Thinking Day program included Iris O'Neill, Kimberly DeMarco, Gabriella Luque, Brielle Bogash, Camryn Keegan, Katie Gallagher, Emily Keegan, Sarah Gray, Lauren Spencer, Carey Villa, and Amanda Merino. Holding the dowel that the quilt is suspended from is Meg Gray (hidden) at left and Lori Villa at right.

By DEBORAH WALSH

STAFF WRITER |

Suburban Trends

Local Girl Scouts have undertaken a variety of service projects that help youngsters in their community and beyond.

At a June 2 school board meeting, girls from Troop 94147 presented proceeds from their Bronze Award service project. The Bronze Award is the highest award attainable at the Junior Girl Scout level. According to their leader, Cindy Keegan, the girls raised $2,041 to fund services for the Multiply Disabled Program at Walter T. Bergen (WTB) School. Specifically, the funds will go toward Community Based Instruction.

Keegan said the junior Scouts were brainstorming ideas for their Bronze Award when Amanda Merino came up with the idea of helping out Willow Bross, a member of their troop, who had been enrolled in the multiply disabled program at Samuel R. Donald (SRD) School. The girls working toward their Bronze Award are in fifth grade, and when they became fifth graders they transitioned from the SRD to WTB. There is no multiply disabled class at WTB, so Willow remained at SRD.

"The girls love Willow and wanted her to be with them at school," said Keegan.

So troop representatives met with Cheryl Mallen, the director of special services for the school district, and therapist Amanda Sisco to determine how they could best help the district's multiply disabled program. The girls found out that the district is converting a home economics classroom at WTB into a multiply disabled classroom over the summer, so multiply disabled youngsters at SRD will now be able to advance to WTB.

Keegan said Girl Scouts are not permitted to make monetary donations, but are allowed to donate equipment and services. In speaking with Mallen and Sisco, it was determined that Community Based Instruction would greatly benefit students enrolled in the multiply disabled program. In the past, one of the Community Based Instruction activities for students in this class has been a trip to the supermarket and a return trip to school where they prepare a meal, which has significant and varied therapeutic value.

Saddling up

The Community Based Instruction the Scouts will fund includes horseback riding at Starlight Farm in Ringwood, which specializes in hippotherapy. The term hippotherapy is derived from the Greek word for horse: hippo. It is speech, occupational, or physical therapy that utilizes the horse's movement in treatment. The youngsters will also visit New York Sports Club where they will swim for physical therapy.

To raise the funds for the Community Based Instruction, Keegan said the girls invented a workshop that they called "Art Outside the Box." For three days, the Bronze Award candidates hosted Art Outside the Box and girls from other local troops were invited to participate in the program for a $10 donation.

The girls organized five different stations where art activities were orchestrated in a way that would allow participants to feel what it would be like to complete the activity if they were disabled. Citing an example, Keegan said at one station the girls were given a long, wiggly brush to create a painting. At each station the girls would explain the disability and name three famous people including renowned athletes who have that particular disability.

"They realized that things could be more difficult, but still fun. They learned that there is equipment and therapies that can help people overcome difficulties. They realized it is okay to have a disability and that you can work things out," said Keegan.

In addition to the Art Outside the Box program, Meg Gray's Cadette Girl Scout Troop hosted a "Girl Scouts Got Talent" program, where carnations were sold to raise funds. A carnation was purchased for the girls participating in the talent show.

The girls from Troop 94147 attended the June 2 school board meeting, where they symbolically presented the board with their Community Based Instruction donation. Those receiving their Bronze Award who attended the June 2 meeting included Gabriella Luque, Brielle Bogash, Kimberly DeMarco, Iris O'Neill, and Amanda Merlino. Olivia Tuck, Willow Bross, Estreya Cuervo-Whitney, and Olivia Pardo were unable to attend the meeting.

The other presentation made at the June 2 school board meeting focused on the Girl Scouts World Thinking Day. According to information provided by Theresa Merino of the local World Thinking Day Committee, World Thinking Day has been observed by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides since 1926. It is a day of friendship, advocacy, and fundraising for 10 million Girl Scouts and Girl Guides throughout the world. They celebrate World Thinking Day by learning about their international sisters in designed focus countries for the year.

This year's focus countries are Armenia, Egypt, Benin, Bangladesh, St. Vincent, and Grenadines. They also commemorate World Thinking Day by participating in fun and educational activities based on the advocacy theme of the year while earning their World Thinking Day badge. This year's theme is achieving universal primary education.

Meg Gray, who serves as both a Cadette troop leader and Brownie troop co-leader, said Bloomingdale and Butler Girl Scout service units, which consist of more than 200 Scouts, participated in making a quilt as part of their World Thinking Day badge requirements. Each girl made a fabric square that was included in the quilt. In keeping with the theme, each fabric square focused on an educator. The Bloomingdale Scouts presented the quilt to the school board on June 2. The Butler Scouts also made a quilt to present to their school board.

"They were instructed to make fabric squares that expressed a message of thanks to an educator. We discussed the importance of having access to education; especially primary education, which is something that all girls have access to throughout the world," said Gray.

Gray and Keegan also lead Brownie Troop 94641, which collected 300 books for Better World Books, a non-profit that attempts to distribute books to youngsters in need.